"Food shortages in Developing (less developed) countries are due at least as much to social and economic factors as they are to physical disasters" Discuss this view using a range of examples.

Agriculture Essay "Food shortages in Developing (less developed) countries are due at least as much to social and economic factors as they are to physical disasters" Discuss this view using a range of examples. Food shortages in developing countries are due at least to social and economic factors as they are to physical factors is a fair comment to make as many of the physical disasters which occur in developing countries can also occur in developed countries. However it is rare to find a case of a developed country having food shortages due to a physical disaster. Therefore there must be a reason that the developing countries suffer in positions which developed countries do not. Simply, the developing countries do not have the infrastructure or the resources to cope with a physical disaster in the same way that a developed country does. This therefore leads to further problems, one of the most obvious and well publicised is food shortages. The reason for this is partly due to the fact that the governments in developing countries is not very efficient or is corrupt which causes problems to the economy of the country. An example of where the government has not helped with the problem of food shortages is in Bangladesh. Although the initial cause of a food shortage there was because much of Bangladesh is low lying (some even below sea level) and makes up the deltas of the

  • Word count: 1618
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

"Life in the Trenches" Diary Entries

"Life in the Trenches" Diary Entries November 1914 It's cold, damp and I'm tired. Some of the trench was blown apart today, we had to build it back up. We didn't have many trenches it was more of a spread out, open battle. Today I got shot in the leg (it's still hurting). They said they might have to amputate but luckily I pulled through without that happening. The commanders were harsh, they knew I had been shot and still sent me out on a patrol, I don't blame them though they're just following their orders I suppose. I ate before I went out, plum and apple (yeah, tinned food again... great). I started out. Sneaking slowly out of the trench with Private J.P, one of the friends I had made since this horrible war began. Friends are hard to come by out here, having the right attitude helps a lot. We walked about 100 metres, and then had to commando crawl 50 metres to even start to see the enemy trenches (and with a bandage rapped tightly around my leg it wasn't so easy). It was such a dark night (the moon wasn't out). We saw two enemy soldiers setting up a machine gun. We had to get out of there quickly! The slightest movement and we would have been discovered and captured instantly. One of the soldiers had a star shell in his hand. He would have seen us. We left and reported back. A good night as far as I'm concerned. June 1915 Dinner time, (thank god) over all I thought

  • Word count: 1087
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

French food.

As a rule, the French eat three meals a day, usualy at the same hour. Even though this practice is disappearing in the professional world, many people see this tradition as an important aspect of the French way of life. French people start the day with the petit déjeuner (breakfast), which Relax and enjoy! Mealtime consists of bread (le pain): baguette, croissants or brioches, with an expresso, a café crème (expresso with hot, foamy milk), a simple but strong bowl of drip coffee or a chocolat chaud (hot cocoa). Then comes the déjeuner (lunch), enjoyed between noon and 2:00 pm, which is usualy the main meal of the day (when travelling in France - except in Paris - don't be surprised if most of the businesses are closed during these sacro-saint two hours). In the evening, the dîner (dinner) is served not earlier than 8:00pm. In many restaurants, the menus are in French only. Usually, a menu has a handwritten fixed-price option called a menu du jour offering the specials of the day. You'll get nice surprises by ordering dishes without knowing exactly what they are. Do not hesitate to print out the table below which lists the most popular French dishes. Bring it along on your next trip! l'agneau l'ail la banane le beurre la bière l'anyoh l'eye banan burr bee-yehr lamb garlic banana butter beer à la pression le bifteck le steak le boeuf

  • Word count: 1537
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

Endocrine System

Fiona White Physiology & Anatomy Endocrine System What is Goitre? Goitre is a term applied to a swelling in the front of the neck resulting in the enlargement of the thyroid gland. The size of the swelling can vary and in extreme cases the swelling can be very prominent and cause discomfort from its pressure on the windpipe and other important parts of the neck. What causes Goitre? Goitre is caused by the over production of thyroxine (hyperthyroidism) which leads to a condition known as exophthalmic goitre. It is called this due to the large swelling in the throat and because the eyeballs protrude. Sufferers with hyperthyroidism will generally have an increased metabolic rate, the heart beats faster and together with a general restlessness both physically and mentally, and they will have dramatic weight loss and almost always develop Goitre. Thyroid deficiency is either due to an under active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) or poor diet resulting in an iodine deficiency. Endemic Goitre is where certain regions, mostly valleys and elevated plains in mountainous areas are devoid of iodine in their diet due to poor soil quality and the lack of green leafy vegetables and fish. The thyroid is an endocrine gland which produces TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) known as thyroxine. This controls the body's basal metabolic rate and affects growth. If the thyroid gland is

  • Word count: 741
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

How important is food?

How important is food? Food is vital for life. The food we eat must provide us with nutrients and energy, which we need to keep us healthy. It is controlling the quantity and quality of the food we eat, alongside regular exercise, which will enable us to do this. The body needs over forty different nutrients for good health, from a variety of foods. Nearly half of our intake should come from carbohydrates, along with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Dr Susan Jebb, writing for the BBC, reports that 'people who choose to eat food that is high in fat or calories in just a small portion are more likely to gain weight than those who tend to fill their plates with bulky, low energy foods'. It takes around 3,500 calories to gain half a kilo of weight, and excessive over consumption can lead to significant weight gain and obesity Obesity is measured by BMI, which stands for Body Mass Index, and is the relationship between weight and height. A person with a BMI of between 25 and 30 is classified as overweight, and above 30 is obese. When someone is referred to as being apple or pear shaped, it is in reference to the distribution of fat on that person (Ashwell et al. 1985). Health problems associated with obesity include diabetes, high blood pressure, along with some forms of cancer, and there can even be some psychological issues due to the social stigma of being

  • Word count: 704
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

Market Research: Flavoured Bread

Market Research: Flavoured Breads Why Carry Out Market Research? Market research is vital to literally the whole food industry. This is because it clearly informs companies which foods are popular, which foods are not selling well, sudden increases and decreases in demand, and many more facts and statistics that provide pertinent information as to which products, and how many, food companies should purchase. Also, it shows where there is a gap in the market and highlights products from other food companies that are selling well, and whether they can be copied or not. Ultimately, carrying out market research is an indisputable way for food manufacturers to save and earn more money by selling products that appeal to the majority of consumers. My aim is to produce an analysis of flavoured bread products currently on the market, in which I will have included: what is popular, current types with a high demand and having done the previous, give my own ideas for a flavoured bread product. I predict that currently savoury flavoured breads; such as garlic bread and olive ciabatta; will be the most popular type of bread. I believe this because these types of bread do not have many particular strong tastes, therefore it could appeal to a vast range of consumers. Flavoured Breads Throughout my research ciabatta and focaccia appear many times. Both are believed to have originated

  • Word count: 644
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

Is it legitimate to advertise "junk food" to children and is this the only factor that affects obesity?

Is it legitimate to advertise "junk food" to children and is this the only factor that affects obesity? This essay will discuss whether the advertisements of junk food are reasonable to advertise and are there other aspects that help obesity to develop in children. Increasing rates of obesity appear to be common to the process of industrialisation and have been linked with many factors, including a more sedentary lifestyle and diets high in fat and sugars and an abundance of food. (Gordon, Richard, 2000) The number of children suffering from obesity has increased dramatically since the mid 1980's in the UK. However this is not just a UK problem but also a global issue. Obesity is defined as 'An abnormal accumulation of body fat usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with the increased risk of illness, disability, and death.' A large proportion of TV advertising targeted at children is for processed foods; the vast majority of this promotes foods high in fat, sugars or salt. The debate about food advertising and advertising viewed by children is one that has continued for many years. During that time a wealth of evidence has emerged to show that targeting advertising as a means of tackling childhood dietary, nutritional or weight gain problems is completely unjustifiable and ineffective. One of the most heavily studied areas of

  • Word count: 3300
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

The meaning or value of a favourite food of yours or that of a close friend or family member

The meaning or value of a favourite food of yours or that of a close friend or family member Around the world, I have eaten many kinds of delicious food. As I grew up in Thailand, however, Som Tum is my favorite food. Its name, "Som," means papaya and "Tum" means crushing. With my family, I eat Som Tum as a salad with pork satay, which is a skewer with meat. Additionally, sticky rice, a Thai specialty, is cooked and served in bamboo. Each ingredient is common, but fresh and natural -nothing is bought processed. Som Tum is valuable as a Thai traditional food passed from generation to generation, because of its simplicity and its richness in nutrition. Som Tum is valuable, because of its simplicity. It is golden brown with a pink tinge, served warm, with unripe green papaya. It is the combination of many common ingredients: peanuts, tamarind sauce, fish sauce, tomatoes, dried and small shrimp, garlic, lime, green beans, coconut sugar, and green and red very spicy chili. All ingredients are easily crushed in a mortar with a pestle to make a thick paste of Som Tum. Som Tum is rich in nutrition, full of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins, which the body's systems can use to maintain their functions. Carbohydrates from tomatoes, green beans, natural coconut sugar, papaya, and sticky rice are used as primary sources of energy for the body. Another energy source is proteins

  • Word count: 378
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

Comparisons of radula types in Gastropods and Bivalve systems in the Phylum Mollusca.

Comparisons of radula types in Gastropods and Bivalve systems in the Phylum Mollusca. Introduction Although not always apparent, within the Phylum Mollusca there is a uniform that is in the whole Phylum. These are a muscular foot, visceral mass and mantle cavity. Most within this phylum are soft bodied and as such require a shell for protection against predators. The shell is formed by a fold of tissue that drapes over the visceral mass and secretes the shell, which is composed of Calcium carbonate. The largest class with this phylum is the Gastropods. These usually have conical, flattened or spiral shells which have been formed through torsion. The class Bivalve are given their name because they have extensive mantle lobes which enable them to secrete a single shell composed to two valves by which the shell is hinged, which is the non calcified part. The shell is closed by posterior and anterior muscles which draw the two halves tightly together. Not only does the shell differ in these two classes but also their feeding apparatus and strategies. Thus this investigation is to observe these differences and record them (Campbell and Reece 2002). Aims: To observe the morphological differences in Gastropods and Bivalves. To observe and record the different types of radula found in Buccinium spp, Conus spp, Calliostoma spp, Patella spp and Littorinal. To observe and

  • Word count: 1395
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay

There has become an increasing demand for single portion food products - I will now need to think about all the relevant reasons as to what factors have caused this change, as well as the users.

As there has been a significant change in society regarding what people want to eat. There has become an increasing demand for single portion food products. I will now need to think about all the relevant reasons as to what factors have caused this change, as well as the users. I will carry out a brainstorm to assess the different changes in our society today which effect what people now wish to consume. Working mothers (no time to cook) Parties Now I will look at each point that I have risen regarding why we desire single portion foods. * The elderly Stereotypical older people, being those who cannot get around very much so rely on single portion foods. Which are usually easy to prepare and so not require a large amount of skills that the elderly have trouble with. But also, there are the older people nowadays that have a very active social life and so prefer not to spend their time cooking. It is also a well-known fact that people are living for a lot longer. Therefore there are more elderly people, resulting in more single portion food products. * Weight watchers The next point I raised was weight watchers, the reason that single portion foods are so popular with this category of people as they tell you exactly how many calories they contain as well as fat. This means that it is easy to know exactly how much they are eating without going to great lengths to find

  • Word count: 7322
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Design & Technology
Access this essay